Improvement in water-wheels



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD R. PERCY, OF LAWRENCE, KANSAS.

IMPROVEMENT IN WATER-WHEELS.

Specification forming part of Letters `Patent N 0. 141,074, dated July22, 1873 application filed July 26, 1872. l

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD R. PERGY, of Lawrence, in the county ofDouglas and State of Kansas, have invented a Mode of Using Floating Water-VVheels, for the purpose of making available, in the production ofmechanical power, any running water at all the varying depths caused bytides, freshets, or in any other way.

A floating water-wheel having a horizontal axis, around which it willrevolve, sustained bythe water, and not suspended by machinery, isrevolved by the force of the current, and is retained in position byportions of its axis being brought into relation with upright posts,pillars, or columns erected for that purpose.

When there are only two upright posts, pillars, or columns erected, thewater-Wheel will revolve between them. If there be more than twouprights, then the water-wheel will be constructed in sections, unitedby a common shaft or axis, or united by gudgeons which connect togetheradjacent sections 5 and in these cases each section of the water-wheelwill revolve between two of the uprights. In each ofthe uprights therewill be a slot, for a portion ofthe axis of the water-wheel to work in,of sufficient length to answer the purpose required.

When only two uprights are used, then the projecting ends ofthe axisofthe water-wheel revolve in the slots of said uprights, and slide up ordown in said slots when the water-wheel is raised or lowered by thewater upon which it rests; but it' more than two uprights are used, thenthe water-wheel is made in sec` tions, and in this case the projectingends of its axis work in the slots of the outermost uprights, and thoseportions of its axis which connect the adjacent sections run through andwork in the slots ofthe inner uprights.

When the water-wheel does not reach entirely across the running water, afloating darn,77 placed at one end of the water-wheel, can be used byerecting uprights having slots in them of a suitable length. One end ofsaid iioating dam is placed as nearly as possible to the end of thewater-wheel, and the other end is placed so that the line of thefloating darn and that of the water-wheel form an angle greater or less,as shall be found to give thc bestresult; the object of the floating dambeing to prevent the water from running around the end of thewater-wheel.

The floating dam is a structure which is sustained by the water, and notsuspended by machinery. It will be constructed in one solid or hollowframe, or else made in sections, having pieces which connect togetheradjacent sections.

As an illustration of a floating dam, suppose astructure ifty feet long,eight feet wide, and one foot in thickness. Then the fifty feet would bethe length of the dam 5 the eight feet its height, a portion of whichwould be below the surface of the water and the rest above it 3 the onefoot would be its thickness. Those portions of the floating dam whichcome in contact with the said uprights will run in the abovementionedslots, and the floating dam will thus be retained in position, and willbe raised or lowered by the rise or fall of the water on which it oats.Y

A floating dam at each end of the waterwheel will be used, if required,or, where the sections of the floating dam are hollow, one or two shaftsrunning through said sections, to connect and hold them together; and inthis case those portions of the shaft which are between adjacentsections are the parts which slide up and down in the slots of theuprights.

Where the water is always flowing in one direction we can dispense, it'found desirable, with the slots inthe uprights; and in such a case thoseportions of the axis of the waterwheel which heretofore have beendescribed as working in the slots of the uprights will work up and down,and also revolve, on the faces oi' said uprights. The force of thecurrent will keep the said portions of the axis oi' the water-wheelpressed against the faces of the said uprights.

Means involving the same principles will be used for revolving afloating water-wheel connected with a vessel anchored in running water.The projecting ends of the axis'of said water-wheel will rotate in theslots of the uprights when the said water-wheel is revolved by the forceof the current, and said ends of said axis will slide up or down in saidslots, according` to the varying draft of the vessel. In this case theuprights are a part of, or are attached to, the vessel.

Figure l represents a view of the upright post and of the Wheel insection. Fig. 2 represents a horizontal sectional view of the uprightposts and of the Wheel in sections or compartments. Fig. 3 represents aview ot' the floating dam.

a a a a a a a represent the shaft Vor axis ofthe Water-wheel runnin gthrough the slots of the upright c o, c C, c o, 0 c, c c. 0 c representwhere there is a slot. b l) represent one seetion or compartment or" theWater-Wheel.

In Fig. 3, a represents a square shaft, instead ot' the section of acircular one. The' oating dam would need a square shaft or axis toprevent its being revolved by the action ot' the running Water.

l. A water-wheel having a horizontal axis, in combination with fixedupright posts, pillars, or columns, constructed, as described, so thatthe Wheel will be sustained by the Water alone, and caused to revolve inall the vary ing depths of the running Water on which it floats.

2. In combination with the floating Wheel and upright posts, thefloating dam, as and for the purposes described.

EDWARD R. PERGY.

Witnesses:

W. G. BROOKS, XV. I. PUGH.

